SecondHandSense:THERE ARE some cars one shouldn't think of buying without a full service history - an accurate list would have to include almost every car produced by Alfa Romeo in the recent past.
In fairness, the company has been improving but it will be a while yet before anyone would rush to buy a second-hand one. That is the downside of the Alfa story. The upside is that few companies have consistently turned out cars with so much road presence and élan.
The Alfa 156, launched in 1998 and replaced last year, stands out. In a world of medium-sized cars, it broke the mould. It had executives practically bribing employers to get one on the fleet. It was impressive, but rapid depreciation put paid to most fleet managers' affections. So why look at one now?
Well, the 156 is still an impressive sight and it had improved a great deal by 2003. At a time when the landscape looks grey, the car still offers a good driving experience and great value.
The appeal of the 156 lies in its exterior design, by Walter Da Silva, with rear door handles secreted to give it a coupé look and the classic Alfa touches inside, such as instrument cowling and the centre dials. Despite bucking the Alfa trend and opting for front-wheel drive, engineers managed to retain the driving flair. There were various engine options but the most sensible remain the 1.6-litre petrol and the 1.9-litre JTD diesel.
The car did have its faults. The interior is not suited to the tall driver; rear space is cramped and you have to put back seats down to manage any sizeable load. Other problems include electrical faults that showed a greater attention to looks than quality. However, the 156 has a less embarrassing record than competitors, with only three minor recalls and none in the latter four years of the car's life.
There is no EuroNCAP crash-test profile for the car as it was not tested, but Alfa did invest in passive safety measures for later cars. So the advice is to look for a car with a full service history. A 2005 with 1.9-litre diesel engine and 43,000km on the clock is on offer at one garage for €12,950. A 2004 petrol 1.6 and with 74,000km is €9,000. Expect substantial discounts on these prices.
RATING: 5/10